Choosing a Commercial Plumber For Your Business

May 17th, 2012 Posted in Commercial Plumbing
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If you own or operate a business, you know that commercial plumbing problems are a little different than residential plumbing problems.  At a business or commercial facility, a clogged toilet, broken or leaking water line, or stopped up drain line is more than just an inconvenience, it means downtime for your operation and you can’t afford downtime that results in lost customer and lowered employee productivity.

Every business needs to establish a relationship with a great local commercial plumber and keep their contact information handy.  That way, when a problem arises like a clogged toilet, full grease trap, or broken water line you and your employees will immediately know who to call to get the problem fixed fast.

When choosing a plumbing contractor, you want to find a plumber who handles the types of plumbing problems that might arise at your business, who you can depend on for fast response time and professional plumbing repairs, and who will not charge an arm and a leg for the work.

First make sure that the commercial plumber can take care of your plumbing needs.  Some commercial plumbers don’t handle things like boiler service and repair or cleaning grease traps. Then, ask for references and follow up.  Talk to other businesses that have used this plumber to see if they were satisfied with the quality of the work and would use the plumber again.

When comparing rates, don’t automatically go with the lowest cost plumber.  Expect to pay market rates for top quality commercial plumbing service from an experienced plumbing contractor.  A commercial plumbing contractor that quotes a very low price will likely deliver low quality service and when you are in business, you cannot afford anything less than top quality, reliable plumbing services.

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Hi Tech Leak Detection

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Water Leak Detection
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Do you think you might have a leaky pipe in the fresh water system inside your home?  These pipes are usually hidden in the walls and ceilings of you home and one way to look for the leak is to start knocking holes in the walls.  Similarly, if you suspect you have a water leak in the yard in your water service line or irrigation system, you can grab a shovel and start digging.

However, there is a better way to find leaky pipes without tearing up your home and your landscaping.  Most plumbers use high tech electronic leak detection equipment including ultrasonic or thermal imaging equipment to find leaks in water pipes hidden underground and behind walls, ceilings and floors.  Using this method, your plumber can pinpoint the location of the leak while avoiding unnecessary digging and damage to your yard or the inside of your home.

Ultrasonic leak detection equipment can detect sound made by leaking water that cannot be heard by the human ear.  Infrared thermal imaging equipment can detect moisture behind walls and under floors.  It not only detects leaks, but also identifies hidden water damage to floors, walls, and ceilings.  These cutting edge leak detection systems can even help locate leaks in water pipes underneath homes built on a slab.

If you concerned about the possibility of a water leak in your home, call a plumber with experience in non-destructive leak detection techniques such as ultrasonic or thermal imaging.  They will be able to precisely locate the leak and repair it with the least amount of damage to your home.

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Warning Signs of a Water Leak

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Every home will eventually have a water leak of some kind.  There are many different points that water leaks can occur in the home.  Some water leaks such as a leaky toilet flapper valve are easy to fix and don’t cause a lot of damage but others including leaky pipes or a leaking water supply line can cause serious damage to your property.

However, all water leaks waste water and should be repaired as soon as possible by an experienced water line repair plumber. Even a small water leak can waste a lot of water and add hundreds of dollars per year to your water bill. By being alert to signs of a water leak, homeowners will know when to call a plumber who can locate the leak and repair it before it causes serious damage or wastes a lot of water.

Some obvious signs of water leaks in the home that calls for immediate attention include wet spots in the ceiling or walls, and standing water in the crawlspace or basement.  You may also see mold or mildew growing in the area of a water leak.

If your home is built on a slab, a warm spot on the floor can be a sign of a leak in a hot water pipe.  With this type of leak you may also notice that your gas or electric bill has gone up (depending on whether you have a gas or electric water heater).

A wet or soft, mushy area of the yard that never dries out is another sign that you may have a water leak.  If you notice any of these symptoms, have it checked out by a reputable plumber.  Your plumber can locate any leaks and get them repaired quickly.  If left unrepaired, many water leaks can cause expensive damage to your walls, ceilings, floors, and even your foundation.

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High Water Bills May Indicate Water Leaks

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Many times, the first indication that you may have a water leak is a high water bill, especially if your water bill seems to be getting higher every month for no apparent reason.  If this sounds familiar, you may have a water leak that should be checked out by a reputable plumber.  Water leaks not only waste water, but depending on where the leak is located, it can cause serious damage.

Normal fluctuations in a home’s water usage can come from many different sources.  For example, if you have a sprinkle irrigation system it would be expected that the water bill increases when the sprinkler system is in use.  Similarly, if you have a swimming pool or spa you would expect that your water bill will go up during the summer months as water lost due to evaporation is replaced.

However, if your water bills keep climbing without a good explanation, it may be an indication of a water leak in your water lines, sprinkler irrigation system, or inside your home.  It is important to find and repair and water leaks as soon as possible.  Water leaks inside the home can damage floors, walls, and ceilings.  Water leaks in the water supply line or irrigation system can cause erosion, damage foundations, driveways, and sidewalks, and attract termites and other insects.

A good plumber will be able to quickly locate and repair any water leaks at your home.  They understand the common sources of water leaks and have the experience needed to track down any leak.  They can also use sophisticated leak detection equipment to pinpoint leaks without damaging your property.  Identifying the exact location of the leak will also minimize the amount of digging or opening holes in walls, floors or ceilings to access the leaky pipes.

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Using Your Meter To Check For Water Leaks

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Your water meter can be a useful tool for determining whether you have a water leak in your home.  Whether your water bills have been unusually high, you have notices a wet spot in the yard, or you just want to check to be sure that you do not have any hidden water leaks in your home, the meter is a great place to start.

First you will need to locate the water meter.  In most homes, the water meter is located in a box in the ground near the street in front of the house.  Sometimes the meter is in the yard or it can even be next to the house.

Once you have found the water meter, turn off all of the water using systems in your home such as the ice maker, automatic spa or pool filling devices, and your irrigation system.  Next, on the face of the meter, mark the position of the pointer or “sweep hand”.  Wait 30 to 40 minutes without using any water in your home and check the meter again.  If the sweep hand has moved, then water has been flowing through the meter and there is a leak somewhere in your system.

If your home is equipped with a water shutoff valve, the next step is to turn off the water shut off valve.  Repeat the process for checking the meter for movement of the sweep hand.  If the hand still moves indicating that water is flowing through the meter, the leak is located somewhere in the water service line between the meter and you home.  If the meter does not show any water movement, then the leak is somewhere in your home.  It could be a leaky toilet flapper valve, in your irrigation system, or in a water pipe inside your home.  Wherever the leak is located, you will need to call a water line plumber to repair the leak.

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Hot Water Leaks

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Have you noticed unusually high water bills accompanied by high energy bills?  Have you been running out of hot water sooner than normal?  If your home is built on a slab, have you noticed a warm spot on the floor?  If you answered yes to these questions, you may have a leak in your hot water pipes.

It is not uncommon for a home to develop a leak in the hot water lines that goes unnoticed for weeks or months, especially if the home is built on a concrete slab.  In a home built on a foundation with a crawlspace or basement, a leak in the hot water pipes is usually noticed quickly since the pipes are often visible in the basement or crawlspace.  Even when the pipes are hidden in the walls or ceilings, a leak will result in noticeable wet spots on the ceilings, floors, and walls.

However, in many homes built on a slab, the hot water pipes run under the slab and a leak can go undetected for a long time.  This is a very common problem especially in homes originally plumbed with polybutylene pipes.

If you suspect a leak in you hot water pipes, you should have the leak repaired as soon as possible by an experienced plumber.  Leaking hot water wastes water and energy.  Your water heater has to work overtime to keep the water in the tank hot which will drive up your energy bills.  Even a small hot water leak can cost you hundreds of dollars per year in high water and energy bills.

In addition, water leaks under a slab cause erosion problems and attracts termites and other insects.  Avoid wasting money on expensive repairs by having hot water leaks fixed by a reputable local plumber.

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Fixing Leaky Toilets

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Toilets
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Leaky toilets are one of the most common sources of water leaks in the home.  A toilet with a small leak can waste more than 20,000 gallons of water per year and according to EPA estimates, a toilet that leaks so much that it runs constantly can waste as much at 200 gallons per day – that’s 73,000 gallons of water per year right down the drain!

A leaky faucet or shower head is easy to identify since you can see the water dripping, but how can you tell if your toilet is leaking? The most obvious sign of a leaking toilet is the sound of the toilet running. If your toilet runs constantly, you definitely have a leak. If your toilet runs after flushing it and you have to jiggle the handle to make it stop, that’s another sign of a leak.

“Ghost flushing”, or a toilet that runs briefly even when nobody flushed it is a sign of a slow leak.  To be confirm a leaky toilet, carefully remove the lid from the tank and put a few drops of food coloring in the tank.  If the water in the bowl changes color, you know you have a leak.

Toilet  leaks are usually due to a leaky flapper valve or a bad fill valve.    The flapper valve is the big rubber stopper in the bottom of the tank.  When you move the handle, the flapper valve opens and the toilet flushes.  Replacement flapper valves are available at your local home improvement store and are not difficult to install.

A defective fill valve can also cause a toilet leak.  A fill valve that does not shut off properly will allow water to constantly fill the tank and trickle into the commode through the overflow pipe.  A fill valve is a little more complicated to install than a flapper valve, but still within the capability of many homeowners.

If you are not comfortable handling your own bathroom repairs, your local plumber will be able to fix your toilet leaks.

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Repairing a Leaky Toilet Wax Ring

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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If you find water coming out from under the base of your toilet every time you flush, this is a sign of a defective wax ring.  It is very important to replace the wax ring and stop the leak as soon as possible.  Otherwise, the water will rot the flooring under the toilet and you will soon not only need toilet repairs, but also a very expensive floor replacement.

Detailed instructions for replacing a wax ring are easy to find on the internet.  The job involves disconnecting the toilet from the water supply, unbolting it from the floor, removing the old wax ring, installing the new wax ring, re-attaching the toilet to the floor, and hooking up the water supply line.

You should be aware that although the process sounds easy, there are several ways that things can take a wrong turn.  For one thing, the water shutoff valve can be corroded and either start leaking after you shut off the water or you can force it too hard and crack the water supply line.

Further, the hold-down bolts can be corroded and you can round off the nuts, snap the bolts or strip the head.  Next, a toilet is very heavy and if you drop it you could damage the toilet or the floor.  Also, if you don’t place the toilet on the wax ring just right, the wax ring can be damaged and you will have to start over again.  Another potential problem is that if you over-tighten the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor, the base might crack and you will need a new toilet. Finally, the water supply line may leak or the tank could leak at the tank to commode connections.

If you have any concern at all about your ability to do it yourself, call your local plumber and let them handle the bathroom repairs.  It’s money well spent to get the job done quickly and professionally.

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Solutions for a Sweating Toilet

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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If you notice water collecting around the base of your toilet, you either have a toilet leak or the toilet is “sweating.”  Sweating occurs when condensation forms on the outside of the toilet tank and drips on the floor.  Sweating is more of a problem in warm, humid climates than it is in other parts of the country.  When cold water fills the toilet tank, moisture will condense on the outside of the tank just like on the outside of a cold drink.

If you have a toilet or toilets that sweat, you will need to take steps to stop the problem.  Chronic sweating will eventually lead to a rotted subfloor and mold and mildew growth.

One way to reduce or eliminate toilet sweating is to install a whole house dehumidifier in your heating and air conditioning system.  Reducing the humidity in the home will eliminate the sweating problem.

Another alternative is to install a foam liner inside the tank.  The liner is glued to the inside of the toilet tank and insulates the porcelain tank from the cold water.  In some cases, an anti-sweat valve can be installed that mixes some hot water with the cold water that fills the toilet tank.  The warmer water will eliminate formation of condensation on the tank.

Finally, consider installing a new low flow toilet or a pressure assist toilet.  Some low flow toilets don’t have as much of a sweating problem because they don’t drain all of the water out of the tank.  The room temperature water in the tank mixes with the cold incoming water and keeps the water temperature in the tank high enough that sweating is not a problem.  Pressure assist toilets use a separate inner tank to hold the water so sweating is not a problem.  A plumber who handles bathroom repairs can help you find a new toilet or another solution to your sweating toilet problem.

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Comparing Copper and PEX Plumbing

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Remodeling
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If you are replacing old polybutylene plumbing, upgrading the plumbing, doing a kitchen renovation or bathroom remodel, or have been the victim of copper pipe theft, your plumber has probably given you several options for what type of pipe to install. These days, the two most common types of pipe are traditional copper pipe or modern PEX pipe.  Both have their advantages so the “right” choice depends on your situation and personal preference.

Copper pipe has been used in plumbing for decades.  It has proven to be a very durable, user friendly pipe for hot and cold water distribution lines.  It will last a very long time but like all metals, it will someday corrode.  It is very sturdy and resists punctures and can be installed indoors and outdoors.  The copper in the pipe makes it highly resistant to bacteria growth.

The primary drawback to copper pipe is that it is very expensive.  In addition, the value of copper makes it a prime target for criminals who have been known to cause thousands of dollars in damage to homes by tearing out the copper pipes.  Copper pipe is inflexible and can burst in below freezing weather. Finally, it takes a certain level of skill to work with copper pipe.

PEX is a type of plastic pipe that is very durable and much less expensive than copper pipe.  It is very flexible and comes in long lengths which means that your plumber does not have to install any fittings to make it bend or go around corners.  Fewer fittings means fewer opportunities for leaks to start. It can expand enough that it is far less likely to burst in freezing weather.

The disadvantages of PEX are that it is not recyclable and since it is affected by UV rays, it cannot be used outdoors.  Also, installing PEX requires special tools.  Your plumber can help you decide whether copper or PEX is the best choice for your plumbing project.

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